After a trio of fantastic singles ‘Footsteps’ ‘Looting Takes The Wanting Out Of Waiting’ and ‘The Waltzers’ (all included here), Bricolage have released their debut LP. And, like many of the best albums, it’s one that grows on you more and more with every listen.

Over the course of twelve songs, they set out their stall, and how. Whilst comparisons will, and already have been drawn with the Glasgow School of Indie circa 1981, this album benefits from songs that are tight without being overproduced, and echo Franz Ferdinand’s debut LP, as much as the early releases of those they have been compared to. The album has been produced by former Altered Images mainstay Stephen Lironi, and the 12 songs ’emanate a cinematic and literary glow that illuminates late night tales Glasgow’s West End’ (this last quote lifted pretty much wholsesale from their myspace).

make sure you get your hands on this album – as well as the aforementioned singles, tracks like opener ‘Bayonets’ and #Plots Are For Cemeteries’ are songs you’ll be wanting to stick on your iPod and compilation CD-Rs for a long time to come.

Annoying, or unmotivated students aside, the death of John Martyn at the age of sixty is something that has to be the worst thing. I’d only started to fully appreciate his music over the last few years, and hadn’t seen him live. He produced some excellent albums – Grace & Danger (even Phil Collins’ involvement couldn’t ruin it), One World, and of course, Solid Air. The title was tribute to his friend, Nick Drake, who died the following year. He was good at writing songs about male friends, like another one of Solid Air‘s tracks ‘May you Never’ in which he wishes a friend well. RIP, good Sir.

John Martyn -‘Solid Air.’ mp3

John Martyn -‘May you Never.’ mp3

There is lots of good music coming out – I have heard over twenty releases so far this year* and it seems that Scotland is coming up trumps already. The Chemikal Underground label has already released the debut album from the Phantom Band Checkmate Savage, with excellent albums due out over the next month or so from Aidan Moffat and the sophomore release from De Rosa. Bricolage’s debut came out this week, and a promo copy dropped through the letterbox of 17 Seconds Towers only this morning from Wake The President of their debut album. This album is not on Chemikal Underground but it was recorded at Chem 19, with Paul Savage and they supported Emma Pollock so…(you know how that sentence could end, so I won’t finish it). Not to mention Franz Ferdinand’s long-awaited third album which came out this week, and Les Reno Amps’ second album which will be out in February. Edwyn Collins live at Celtic Connections was a fantastic start to the gig-going year, even better with the addition of Roddy Frame on guitar (read the Vinyl Villain’s review – I was at the gig with the man himself and he summed it up so well i don’t think I can add my tuppence worth).

There’s other great records out as well -Antony and the Johnsons, Bon Iver, M83 and White Lies are already out, and releases from the Pains Of Being Pure at Heart, Darren Hayman, Morrissey, Western Civ and the collaboration between Horace Andy and Ashley Beedle are going to light up the musical world over the next four weeks or so. Broken Records have signed to 4AD -another band I first saw supporting Emma Pollock (and subsequently Idlewild and Sons & Daughters) -you can read all about it at Song, By Toad.

17 Seconds Records is slowly but surely making its’ way into the world, with us literally pacing the streets with boxes of 7″s under our arms (yes, you can buy it on digital services, who are you calling a luddite?). Read all about it either at our myspace or at our website

As ever, i cannot begin to listen to all the stuff i am sent, never mind write posts about it, but these two tracks, from upcoming releases should be heard:

I don’t know about you, but ‘Angie’ by the Rolling Stones has never really rated as one of my favourite tracks of theirs.

However, a collaboration between two legends, Horace Andy and Ashley Beedle, features a cover of this in a reggae style…and I reckon it’s great. The reggae legend is joined by the dance legend and on the evidence of what I have heard so far, sounds like it should do well.

OK folks, I have been waiting to announce this for ages…17 Seconds’ third signing is The Gillyflowers!

You may remember that I wrote about this band a few weeks ago, and that I had seen them supporting Aberfeldy, 17 Seconds Records’ first signing, at the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh. When Reilly Briggs played us the demo, we knew we had to sign them, we’ve spent the last five weeks trying to make this dream come true!

Led by one Kersten Adamson, a Fifer with music in her blood the band sound perfect, all the more especially considering they have only played a handful of gigs so far.

Check out their myspace here listen to the songs and go and make friends.

A mere four years after the release of Some Cities, Doves return with their new album Kingdom Of Rust.

In tribute to Bladerunner, they have written a song called ‘Jetstream’ which is the opening song on the album and sets it off to what would be a fantastic start, from the sound of it. It sounds obvious to describe this as cinematic, but it’s really the most appropriate thing to say.

OK…
Take two (my previous De Rosa post seemed to disappear into the ether). De Rosa, who hail from Lanarkshire in Scotland, release their hotly anticipated sophomore album Prevention on Chemikal Underground (who with Aidan Moffat and the Phantom Band are gearing up for a great 2009).

Santi White’s eponymous debut album was one of the highlights of 2008 here at 17 Seconds towers. I haven’t seen her live yet but I’d sure as heck love to.

Those busy PR people out there have sent me a remix of album track ‘Unstoppable’ which features Lil’ Wayne and his mate Drake. The track comes with the kind of PR that makes you wonder if they are checking if people are reading it properly:

“Already receiving weighty club rotation and airplay in urban Afghanistan and downtown Beirut, Santogold is the first act of the century to boast a post-war following on the International Space Station Mir. Following a live performance broadcast from three thousand miles off the Cape of Good Hope last June, inmates at Leavenworth Penitentiary received Santogold with a celebratory confetti parade. Just another first for the modern super group that knows no bound. ”

Anyway, it’s a great remix of a great track. Get your ears round this!

Friday night I was out in Glasgow with fellow scottish bloggers JC, Drew and Colin for Edwyn Collins (above) at the ABC in Glasgow. I will post my own review here soon. It was a great start to the year’s gigs, especially being as it featured Roddy Frame on guitar.

It was an excellent night…and accommodation was provided by none other than the Vinyl Villain himself. You can read all
about JC, the Vinyl Villain himself’s view of the gig over here at the Vinyl Villain.

On Saturday, it was on with the business of trawling round record shops dropping off Aberfeldy’s single round record shops. It’s now available in quite a few shops including in London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow.

The last few days have been pretty busy around my inbox, as I try and fail to keep up to date and get to grips with everything I’m sent. Much as I cannot wait to get my hands on the new LPs from White Lies (already out) and Franz Ferdinand (out next week), there’s also new and exciting stuff being sent my way. And with the January blues permeting this little corner of Scotland, maybe it’s best I listen to something a little more upbeat than Mono, for example, who I love, but tend to make me wallow than quit the blues.

One of the incoming tracks is 4AD’s signing of Kent band It Hugs Back. this track actually made it to that alll-important no.48 position in the 2008 17 Seconds Festive Fifty.

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ABOUT ME

ED
The rantings and ravings of a thirty-something music fan, from Edinburgh, Scotland.
I've been writing this blog since July 2006. I also write for Is This Music?, God Is In The TV and Louder Than War . I've had my own show on Fresh Air radio, DJed in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in 2008 set up 17 Seconds Records.

Want to get in touch?

Please note: I receive a lot of emails every day encouraging me to check out new bands, but it does take a while to get through them all. Please do not send follow-up emails, it makes an already difficult job impossible.
I'm based in Scotland so the likelihood of me coming to your showcase in New York (unless you are going to provide travel, board and lodging is slim).
The best way is by this blog's own email address: seventeensecondsblog@hotmail.co.uk
...Did I mention about not sending follow-up emails?